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Factors Affecting the Digestibility of Flax Plant Product by Sheep

University of Minnesota, St. Paul

Abstract

Three lots of three sheep each were used in digestion trials in four experimental periods in which flax plant product was fed as the principal feedstuff in 11 test rations. Timothy hay was fed in one ration as a negative control. The effect of the addition of corn, molasses, soybean oil meal, linseed oil meal, urea, and alfalfa meal, alone or in various combinations, upon the digestibility of nutrients in flax plant product rations was tested.

The apparent digestibility of flax plant product supplemented with vitamins and minerals, when fed as the sole feedstuff to sheep, was low. Its total digestible nutrient content was 34.6%. The inclusion of corn in flax plant product rations exerted a favorable effect upon nutrient digestibility.

Addition of soybean oil meal to flax plant product had little effect upon ration nutrient digestibility. However, the addition of soybean oil meal plus corn significantly (P<0.01) increased the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and nitrogen-free extract. Molasses added to a ration containing flax plant product, corn and soybean oil meal apparently provided no additional factor (s) stimulatory to nutrient digestibility. The addition of 1.75% urea to a flax plant product-corn ration resulted in a significant (P<0.01) decrease in fiber digestibility and a significant (P<0.01) increase in protein digestibility.

Alfalfa meal additions to rations composed principally of flax plant product increased the digestibility of most nutrients.

The average daily gain (0.2 7 lb. per day) of the test wethers fed pelleted flax plant product rations throughout the four trial periods was satisfactory.

¹ Paper No. 4426, Scientific Journal Series of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.

² Supported in part by grants from the Olin Mathison Company, Ecusta Paper Division, Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, and Archer Daniels Midland Co., Minneapolis, Minn. Acknowledgement Is due J. W. Hayward, Archer Daniels Midland Co., for making supplies of flax plant product available, pelleting of the rations and other assistance.